Spurs remind Pacers of who they were

The Pacers lost to the visiting San Antonio Spurs 103-77 Monday night. The Pacers are now 52-23
while the Spurs are 58-16. The Pacers are now one game behind in the loss column to the Miami Heat for the top spot in the East. It's the first time the Pacers have not held the top spot this season having lost five of their last six.
Forethoughts

Pacers center Roy Hibbert had 15 points
in Monday's loss to the San Antonio Spurs.

This may sound crazy and all, but it was really the perfect time to the play the Spurs, right now the hottest team in the league after extending their franchise record winning streak to 18 games. But here's why it was best to play them now. If the Pacers had come home and played a bad team, and played just OK and won by 8 or 10 points, then it would give the false sense of security that everything is fine and they can just continue on throughout the end of the regular season. But the Spurs, well,  if you have a weakness they will find it and expose it. And that they did Monday night. Some of the things were quite obvious. Like, when the led-footed Boris Diaw drove the lane from the wing and four Pacers just stood there and watched as he got a layup. Diaw is still a decent player, but Tony Parker he is not. Then, too, the Spurs often sent cutters to the basket that were found for layups. Remember when the Pacers used to do that? On the offensive end, there was actually some improvement in areas, but still the Pacers team that relied on movement and cutting to the basket and only one-on-one situations when the shot clock was running down was still pretty much missing. So, yes, the Pacers have a lot of problems now. It's like they've forgotten who they were in the first half of the season. The Spurs were a good reminder of who the Pacers once were and hopefully can become again.
The Big Plays
The Pacers were within 17-15 early on, and then the Spurs went on a 17-0 run through the end of the first quarter and into the second quarter and that was pretty much it. The Pacers did get the Spurs lead down to seven late in the third quarter, but there was never a serious threat to over throw the reigning Western Conference champions.
The Ups
1) The one thing I did like in this game was a concerted effort the Pacers made to get the ball into Roy Hibbert on offense. Hibbert wasn't great by any measure, 5 of 13 from the field for 15 points. But in terms of getting ready for the playoffs, it's the offensive commitment the Pacers need to make. We can't forget too that Hibbert is a good passer, so not only will that help Hibbert get more comfortable and find his rhythm around the basket, it may also breed movement away from the ball, something the Pacers have done very little of in the last month plus.
The Downs
1) There's all kind of reasons to like David West, and I still do, but he seems either a bit tired or just is kind of running through the motions. Those screens at the top of the key aren't nearly as crisp as they used to be. Sure, some of it is on the guard who is handling the ball to make better use of the that screen, but the defenses see it coming now and there's been no adjustment, or shall we say commitment, to do what has worked for much of the season.
2) The other big issue that popped up in this game was allowing offensive rebounds. The Spurs had 15 of them in this game. On several occasions the Pacers initial defense was solid, but you can only give up so many of those before it becomes a bit disheartening. The Pacers were kind of in that "I thought you had it" mode, instead of the "I'll get it" mode. Never a good mindset to have with the playoffs quickly approaching.
Next Up
The Pacers play again Wednesday when the play host to the Detroit Pistons in a 7 p.m. game. The Pistons are 26-47 and most recently became known as the team to stop the Philadelphia 76ers 26-game losing streak Saturday night, losing to the Sixers in Philadelphia. The Pacers rallied from 25 down to defeat the Pistons 112-104 in overtime back on March 15. The Pacers defeated the Pistons 99-91 back on Nov. 5 and then lost to the Pistons in Indianapolis 101-96 on Dec. 16. The Pistons are led by Josh Smith at 16.2 points and 7 rebounds, Brandon Jennings at 15.7 points and 7.7 assists, Greg Monroe at 14.9 points and 9.2 rebounds, Rodney Stuckey at 13.4 points, Andre Drummond at 13 points and 12.7 rebounds and Kyle Singler at 9.4 points.